Is there a fix for Dale Earnhardt Jr. — quick or otherwise?
First thing first. With five races remaining in the 2009 season, Hendrick Motorsports’ first responsibility is locking up its fourth straight championship. Once that’s accomplished — and there’s little doubt that a Hendrick driver will raise the Sprint Cup title at Homestead in November — the next point of business must be creating a working solution for Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the No. 88 team. In his second season of a five-year contract, Earnhardt is 22nd in the point standings. He’s never finished outside of the top 20 since moving up to the Sprint Cup level full-time in 2000. On Friday, Earnhardt could no longer mask his disappointment. “I’m about to the end of my rope on it,” Earnhardt said. “I’ve been riding it out, but I think there comes a point, though, where you don’t want to ride it out anymore. It’s been a long year. I really don’t want the year to be over with, because I like going to the racetrack every week and racing, but the last several — well, all year, it’s been so l
